A1469 Apple TV box no longer "Activated" and won't show up in AirPlay

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A1469 Apple TV box no longer "Activated" and won't show up in AirPlay

My dad has been using this Apple TV box for years (says he got it about 7 years ago) and the **only** thing he's ever used it for was AirPlay where he would mostly send YouTube videos to his TV from an iPad. He doesn't care about using it for anything else But recently he saw something that said it needed an upgrade (which he approved) and then at that point it stopped showing up as available on AirPlay. I tried helping him by restoring it to factory conditions, logging in with his Apple ID (where it went through 2FA on his other devices), and seeing it if showed up. The best I can gather is that it's "not activated". Tried changing the credit card number on file and nothing changes with the activation status. Not sure if that's absolutely needed for AirPlay.

I did find something claiming that it might be activated with Apple Configurator on a Mac, but I don't currently have access to a Mac that can run it, where it requires MacOS 12.4 or later.

I helped him to set up his LG TV, which is also rather old but still working fine. It wasn't previously connected to his network, and when I did set that up it started showing up as AirPlay enabled as "[LG] WebOS TV". And it does work sometimes where he can send video from his iPad directly to the TV. That would be more than acceptable for him other than after a while it disappears as one of the available AirPlay enabled devices/TVs but then comes back.

Apple TV (3rd generation)

Posted on Jul 18, 2023 9:51 AM

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Answer 1

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y_p_w Author

Level 6

17,778 points

Jul 18, 2023 4:26 PM in response to Urquhart1244

Urquhart1244 wrote:

Normally, Apple TV boxes are activated when set up using an Apple ID account. Deactivation would reportedly prevent AirPlay. The payment method for the Apple ID account seems unrelated, unless that was reason for suspension of the account (would also affect iPad).

Some users have previously seen their device ‘inexplicably’ being deactivated, as described in Settings﹥General﹥About﹥. One trick to re-activate them, involved using Configurator. You will need a Mac for that procedure.

See here for a similar procedure on Windows: discussions.apple.com/thread/253315520

.

LG TV, rather old … AirPlay-enabled …

It can’t be that old if it is an AirPlay-enabled model. It should be from 2018 or later for that function.

That should work for all iPad apps and content providers that support AirPlay. (Some exclusions apply.) Prefer to use in-app AirPlay controls over screen mirroring, whenever available, for best experience.

… after a while it disappears as one of the available AirPlay enabled devices/TVs but then comes back.

At first glance, I would suspect the network connectivity for that. See if the network can be optimized for signal strength and avoiding interference.

Also see: discussions.apple.com/thread/253532264.

I thought of Configurator but I tried loading it on my mid-2012 MBP and found it's a no go without at least 12.4. My 2021 MBP was transferred to someone else, so I don't have that any more.

I still don't know exactly what the deal is. My dad's network is via an ARRIS all in one cable box and Wi-Fi with 2.4/5. I only set up the TV to connect to the 2.4 version, but I think my dad's iPad might be able to connect to both. However, I checked with my iPad and I found it was connected to the 2.4 and sometimes the TV shows up for AirPlay and sometimes not.

Moving the ARRIS box isn't an option as the cable input can't be relocated. And the signal is stable, so I'm not sure why the TV isn't consistently showing up for AirPlay. There's also a ROKU box there that is supposedly available for AirPlay. That's always showing up, even when it's right there at the TV.

At home, I have no problem with AirPlay on my Samsung 7 Series TV and any of my devices, but everything is all in the same room.

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Answer 2

Urquhart1244

Level 10

147,256 points

Jul 18, 2023 12:24 PM in response to y_p_w

Normally, Apple TV boxes are activated when set up using an Apple ID account. Deactivation would reportedly prevent AirPlay. The payment method for the Apple ID account seems unrelated, unless that was reason for suspension of the account (would also affect iPad).

Some users have previously seen their device ‘inexplicably’ being deactivated, as described in Settings﹥General﹥About﹥. One trick to re-activate them, involved using Configurator. You will need a Mac for that procedure.

See here for a similar procedure on Windows: discussions.apple.com/thread/253315520.

LG TV, rather old … AirPlay-enabled …

It can’t be that old if it is an AirPlay-enabled model. It should be from 2018 or later for that function.

That should work for all iPad apps and content providers that support AirPlay. (Some exclusions apply.) Prefer to use in-app AirPlay controls over screen mirroring, whenever available, for best experience.

… after a while it disappears as one of the available AirPlay enabled devices/TVs but then comes back.

At first glance, I would suspect the network connectivity for that. See if the network can be optimized for signal strength and avoiding interference.

Also see: discussions.apple.com/thread/253532264.

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Answer 3

Urquhart1244

Level 10

147,256 points

Jul 18, 2023 8:13 PM in response to y_p_w

… Wi-Fi with 2.4/5. I only set up the TV to connect to the 2.4 version, but I think my dad's iPad might be able to connect to both. However, I checked with my iPad and I found it was connected to the 2.4 and sometimes the TV shows up for AirPlay and sometimes not.

Verify that the router is set to combine the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band into one logical network, with one SSID network name for both bands. Different network names would essentially create two independent networks where devices on one part can’t communicate with devices on the other part. That could explain the ‘sometimes’ availability.

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support

There's also a ROKU box there that is supposedly available for AirPlay. That's always showing up, even when it's right there at the TV.

That would be a fine alternative (unless that is at the neighbors). In some aspects it’s even better (AirPlay 2).

How to use AirPlay and HomeKit with your Roku streaming device - Roku Support

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Answer 4

y_p_w Author

Level 6

17,778 points

Jul 18, 2023 9:50 PM in response to Urquhart1244

Urquhart1244 wrote:

There's also a ROKU box there that is supposedly available for AirPlay. That's always showing up, even when it's right there at the TV.

That would be a fine alternative (unless that is at the neighbors). In some aspects it’s even better (AirPlay 2).

How to use AirPlay and HomeKit with your Roku streaming device - Roku Support

The problem with my dad is that he hates setting up anything and having to do this or that. The thing he loved about his Apple TV was that it just "took over" whenever he wanted to use AirPlay. I got him the Roku box to get streaming services (although I suppose that was available with the Apple TV box), but he hates dealing with it and doesn't use it unless I'm there to help him.

When AirPlay was working directly with the LG TV it was fine for him. But I'm not sure it had anything to do with the network. He never had a problem with the network sending AirPlay content to the Apple TV box. It's kind of a mystery what's going on.

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A1469 Apple TV box no longer "Activated" and won't show up in AirPlay

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